WESTMORELAND — The Westmoreland Parish Council is rallying public support to block the state-run Urban Development Corporation’s plans to privatise the last remaining free beach in the town.

At the last meeting of the all-People’s National Party council, councillors made it clear that they were opposed to the proposed changes to be made to the Bluefields Beach Park. The changes, they contend, might lead to the barring of the general public from the facility.

“It would be remiss of the council if we did not protest against the proposed divestment,” said deputy mayor of Savanna-la-Mar, Winston Comrie.

The Bluefields Beach Park, which is located in Prime Minister P J Patterson’s Eastern Westmoreland constituency, is owned by the UDC. But the facility is to be put under new management and this has sparked fear in the council that the changes might have a negative impact on public use.

The facility is currently very popular and on any given day, especially on public holidays, it is normally swamped with people.

At the council’s last sitting mayor Ralph Anglin said he was “vexed, incensed and outraged” to know that the UDC is still going ahead with its plan to privatise the facility despite the council’s previous opposition to attempts to charge a user fee.

“Bluefields happens to be the only free beach in the west, we will strongly oppose any plan to divest it,” he said.

He was supported by Councillor Earl Brooks, who argued that the public’s right to the beach should not be denied.

Meanwhile, a source at UDC told the Observer that plans to divest the facility were at an advanced stage but refused to answer specific questions in relation to how it will be done.

But according to details provided in documents supplied to the council on the plans for the facility, some of the changes to be made at the beach park include:

* the implementation of a new security post;

* a one way road system;

* limited parking areas;

* an exit gate and fencing;

* a life guard station;

* lighting, water sports activities; and a

* special swimming area.